The People’s National Convention (PNC) has accused the Minority in Parliament of causing financial loss to the state with regard to their boycott of parliamentary proceedings in solidary with two caucus members who are standing trials.
A statement on Friday, July 7, signed by the party’s General Secretary, Janet Asana NaJbla, condemned the action and further urged the Finance Minister to impose a surcharge on all Minority members on days when they will be absent from the House.
As much as the Minority is free to voice their support for any member, the statement noted that “the decision to boycott sitting due to criminal charges instituted by the republic against their colleague is worrying”.
“An opposition party which professes to believe in the rule of law is expected to have faith in the legal system of our nation where they held the reins of power some few years ago”
“The Minority Members in Parliament at this moment is causing financial loss to the state by abandoning their Parliamentary business to go to court to protest for their colleague,” the statement noted.
“For how long will the Minority in Parliament continue this boycott of parliamentary sitting at the expense of the tax payer?” the PNC quizzed.
The People’s National Convention indicated that the politicization of criminal proceedings must not be encouraged at all levels.
“As legislators, we expect them to demonstrate their commitment to rule of law as enshrined in the 1992 Constitution of Ghana.
“Politicization of criminal proceedings must not be encouraged at all levels if we seek to hold the tenet of rule of law.”
The Minority in Parliament has announced its decision to abstain from Parliamentary proceedings on days when the Member of Parliament for Assin North, James Gyakye Quayson, is due to appear in court for an ongoing criminal prosecution against him.
Mr. Quayson, the embattled politician was sworn in as an MP for Assin North on Tuesday, July 4, 2023, after being victorious in the recently held by-election.
In a gesture of solidarity, Minority Leader Cassiel Ato Forson said that the whole Minority caucus will follow Mr. Quayson to court and will abstain from House business on those precise days.
The decision is intended to protest what the Minority perceives as ongoing persecution against Mr. Quayson.
“We wish to serve notice that the entire Minority will accompany our colleague today and any other days that he is to appear in court. We are solidarising with our colleague and we will not participate in the business of the House anytime our colleague is in court and we will be withdrawing from the Chamber after this ceremony if the court processes happen today.”
On Thursday, July 6, the Minority skipped the house’s meeting in support of and in solidarity with two caucus members.
James Gyakye Quayson, the MP for Assin North, and Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, the Minority Leader, were both scheduled to appear in court on Thursday for their ongoing cases.
A criminal investigation into an alleged financial loss to the state of €2.37 million is now being conducted against Dr. Ato Forson. The agreement to buy 200 ambulances between 2014 and 2016 is the central theme of the case.
